Youth and Family Outreach

Youth and Family Outreach creates opportunities that enhance independence and learning to support the quality of life for children, youth and families in Greater Portland. Youth and Family Outreach has a rich, unwavering history of serving some of Portland's most disadvantaged children and families. Since its origins in 1844 as a community outreach mission of the Portland Ministries at Large, the agency has focused its efforts on a compassionate mission to serve the poor. Starting in 1853 with the establishment of Maine's first adult education school, to the Pride Training School for mentally retarded children, to a credit union for the local poor, to the Beacon Teen Center for homeless youth, the agency has risen to meet critical community needs of the time. All of this was made possible through the generosity of Mary Deering Preble who donated land and funds for the construction of a chapel to the Portland Ministry and First Parish Society of Portland. The only condition was that this facility, which was completed in 1852, would always welcome and serve the needs of the local poor. The mission continues on this site to this very day.  In 1979 the Portland Ministries at Large filed for nonprofit status and was granted independent status from the First Parish. Today Youth and Family Outreach is an accredited Early Care and Education facility providing care for 60 children ages 6 wks. to 5 yrs.

Youth and Family Outreach operates an early care and education program with priority given to teen parents and low-income families. We operate a whole foods, locally sourced food program and provide three meals per day to the children.  Meals are prepared from scratch, on site.